Editor's Note: Goodbye 'Rebalance,' Hello 'Trans-Pacific View'

New administration, new name for our U.S. Asia policy blog.

By The Diplomat for The Diplomat

February 03, 2017

The U.S. “rebalance to Asia” is dead — long live the rebalance.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s policy of increasing U.S. diplomatic, economic, and military focus to the Asia-Pacific region was officially dubbed the “rebalance to Asia,” often shortened simply to the “rebalance,” which became the name of our blog on U.S. Asia policy.

With the Trump administration now in office, it’s still unclear to what extent the policies behind the rebalance will carry over. The signature economic component, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, has already been discarded, but the emphasis on stronger military ties with regional partners seems very much alive, if new U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis’ ongoing trip to Asia is any indication.

Regardless, the name “rebalance to Asia” itself has unquestionably been retired. With that in mind, we’ve changed the name of this blog as well. From now on, we’ll keep track of U.S. views and policies on Asian issues from across the Pacific on the “Trans-Pacific View.”